Sewing-machine



W. D. MICH ENER'.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1916.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

l/VVENTOI? 7wA J/MW By I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WAYLAND D. MICHENER, 0F BOSELLE PARK, NEW J ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGERMANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SEWING-MAOHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Application filed November 13, 1916. Serial No. 130,997.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, IVAY AND D. MICH- nrnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Roselle Park, in the county of Union and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

The present improvement relates to sewing machines having a reciprocatinneedle, a work-holder, and means for pro ucing relative lateral oggingmovements between said needle and work-holder in the formation ofdetached groups of fastening stitches, and has for an object to providea machine of this type with work holding mechanism adapted to compressand hold a bundle of yarnstrands or the like during the stitchingoperation thus adapting the machine to the manufacture of tufted ballsor tassels by the well known method of first sewing a bundle ofyarn-strands together at intervals and subsequently cutting the body ofyarn between the groups of stitches. This method is disclosed, forexample, in the U. S. patent to Doolittle, No. 254,935, dated March 14,1882.

It is undesirable, however, to rotate the compressed bundle ofyarn-strands during the stitching operation as is done in the abovementioned Doolittle patent, particularly when the yarn-strands are to besimultaneously sewed together and to asuspenslon cord supported by astrip of braid or fringe,

and the invention has for a further object to provide a special form ofwork-clamp adapted to hold the yarnstrands in a compressed condition,and to provide mechanism for producing relative bodily movements betweenthe needle and work-clamp, whereby the yarn-strands may be sewedtogether without rotatingthe latter.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide means {or stopping themachine with the parts in such a position that the needle Will notinterfere with the ready removal of the finished work.

Further objects of the invention will appear in the followingdescription and claims. The invention is shown embodied in a machine ofthe well known fiat-bed button sewer type such as disclosed in thepatent to Sullivan, No. 777,564. In the present instance the workholder.:0 sists of a work supporting plate on which are mounted tworip-standing work confining guides which are spaced apart and define awork receiving throat between them. The work plate is provided with anelongated needle aperture extending across and somewhat beyond the spacebetween the work confining guides and the latter are grooved verticallyto receive the needle as it descends alternately at opposite ends of theneedle aperture. A presserfoot, having a pair of arched toe-portions anda weighted heel is pivoted to the upper work-clamp arm and adapted tocondense the yarnstrands placed in the work receiving throat.

In order that the stitched work may be readily removed from the clampwithout striking the needle, the work-holder actuating cam is, in thepresent instance, so constructed as to place the work engaging memborein a forward position during the production of the usual tying stitches,so that when the machine is stopped the space above and in front of thework receiving throat is not unduly impeded by the needle.

To gain a better understanding of the invention reference may be made tothe accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a. perspective view of amachine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the workengaging portions of the work-clamp, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe parts shown in Fig. 2.

In the present instance the invention is shown embodied in a machineconstructed substantially in accordance with the disclosure of saidSullivan patent and having the usual fiat bed 1, standard 2, and arm 3in which is journaled the main-shaft 4 connected through the pitman 5 tothe needlebar 6 carrying the eye pointed needle 7. Journaled in rear ofthe needle-bar 6 is a spring pressed pressersbar 8 adapted to be liftedbymeans of the lever 9 and the usual treadle connection. Geared to themainshaft 1 is the cross-shaft 10 on which is mounted the pattern-cam 12formed with a cam-slot 13 and carrying the usual tripping point leiwhich in practice actuates a latchlever 15 to release the starting andstopping lever 16 of the well known stop-mechanism common to machines ofthis type. The machine is preferably provided with the well known devicedisclosed by said Sullivan patrent o cutting th st tching th ead ben a hthe work at the completion of each group of stitches. This device hasnot been illustrated, however, since it forms no part of the presentinvention.

The work-holder comprises the usual slidebar 20 which carries a block 21adjacent its rearward end in which is journaled for slight verticalmovement an upper workclamp arm 22 extending above and substan tiallyparallel with the slide-bar 20 and pressed normally downward by means ofthe usual arched pressure spring 28 secured upon the block by ascrew-bolt. Secured to the forward end of the slide-bar 20 is awork-supporting plate 24f having a needleaperture 25 which is elongatedin the direction of the length of the slide-bar 20. Hising from thework-supporting plate 24:, at opposite ends of the needle-aperture, aretwo up-standing work-confining guides 26, 27 which are spaced apart anddefine a work receiving throat at between them. The upper end-portionsof the work-confining guides are oppositely curved, away from eachother, and form an upwardly flaring mouth; the upper end-portion of theforwardly disposed guide being extended forwardly to form a flattenedhorizontal lip 28 which acts as an auxiliary guide to facilitateinsertion of the strands into the mouth of the workholder. The distancebetween the opposed work-engaging surfaces 29, 80 of the guides is lessthan the length of the elongated aperture 25 in the work-supportingplate and the portion of each guide which stands directly over anextremity of the needle aperture is cut away at 31 to receive theneedle, so that it may descend alternately at opposite sides of theconfined yarn-- strands without passing through the latter.

Secured to the forward extremity of the upper elamp-arm is thehorizontally extended shank 82 of the bifurcated presserfoot 29 whichcooperates with the work-confining guides to compress and hold theyarnstrands in stitching position. The presserfoot 39 is secured betweenits ends to the downwardly and forwardly extended free end of the shank82 by a pivot pin 82 and is formed with a weighted heel 83 and twospaced and arched toe-portions 8 1-, 84 which are extended forwardly atopposite sides of the elongated needle-aperture 25 and Workconfiningguides 26, 27 so that they may bear upon the varn strands and condensethem into a compact bundle preparatory to the stitching operation. Theupper clamparm 22 may be lifted through the usual connections with thepresser-bar, 8 and when so lifted the weighted heel 88 of thepresserfoot will drop and elevate the toes 8% to the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 8, in which position the toes 84 are so related tothe guides 26, 27 and 28 that said toes act as auxiliary guides, indeflecting the made.

work downwardly into the throat 00, and prevent accidental movement ofstrands over the top of the rearwardly disposed guide 27 during thework-inserting operation. By arranging the work-confining guides 26 and27 so that they embrace the needle-aperture, and by providing the spacedpresser elements 8% for compressing the yarn in the throat m at spacedpoints on opposite sides of the stitching point, the yarn strands willbe securely held in the form of a compressed bundle and may be readilybound tightly together by the fastening means.

Longitudinal movements are imparted to the work-holder through the usualconnections with the pattern-cam 12 which comprise a vertical post 85mounted at the rearward extremity of the slide-bar 20 and carrying anadjustable block 86 fitted within the slotted arm 87 of the two-armedrocklever whose other arm 88 carries a camroller 39 fitted within thecam-slot 18. In

the present machine this cam-slot is of special form and is designed toso jog the worle holder as to cause the needle to form the first stitchnear the rearward extremity of the needle-aperture in thework-supporting plate, yet within the bundle of yarn-strands. The secondstitch is made in the yarn at a point forward of the first stitch; thethird stitch at the forward extremity of the needleaperture; the fourthstitch within the yarn and the fifth stitch at the rearward extremity ofthe needle-aperture. Subsequent stitches are formed alternately atopposite sides of the yarn but not within the latter and bind thestrands tightly together; the last three stitches of the group beingmade at the same point where the first stitch was These last stitchesserve to knot the stitching threads in the manner described in the saidSullivan patent. The usual mechanism for jogging the work-holderlaterally of itself in machines of this type is not utilized in thepresent instance and is dispensed with. A guide-block 40, secured to thebed-plates of the machine, is provided with a slideway ll which receivesthe slidebar 20 and confines the said bar against lateral movement.

In the operation of the machine the resser-foot p is lifted to thedotted line position, Fig. 8, and a bunch of yarn-strands s are advancedover the lip 28 and into the throat m. At this time the elevatedtoeportions 84 act as auxiliary guides and form together with the lip 28an enlarged and forwardly opening mouth leading to said throat. If it isdesired that the tufts be attached to suspension cords, a loop of suchcord 0 is also placed in said throat. The presser-foot is next loweredwhereupon the arched toe-portions 84 descend and act to round over andcompress the yarn-strands into a compact bundle adjacent the stitchingpoint, as shown in Fig. 1. Themachine is then started whereupon thework-holder 1s jogged, laterally of the needle. path and a group ofstitchesare formed about e y rn strands to bind them tightly together.Aft r the stitching operation the work may be removed and the yarnsevered to permit expansion of the cut ends. into the form of a tuftedball or tassel such as shown at t.

The form and arrangement, of the parts constituting the invention areclearly, susceptible of material modification within the scope of theappended claims and it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the use of any particular type of stitch forming mechanismand that it is immaterial, in the broad aspect of the invention, whetherthe relative jogging or stitch positioning movements are secured byjogging the needle or the work-holder or both the needle andwork-holder.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis 1. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanismincluding a reciprocating needle, a work-support formed with ayarirreceiving throat, a pressermember adapted to compress a bunch ofyarn-strands in. said throat and hold said yarn. strands fixed relativeto said throat during a succession of stitch-forming cycles, and meansfor producing relative to-andfro stitch-positioning movements betweensaid needle and work-support to cause a localized group of bindingstitches to be formed about said bunch of yarn strands.

In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism includinga reciprocating needle, a stop-motion for con trolling its period ofaction, means, including work-supporting and vertically movable pressermembers shaped to compress and wholly inclose a bunch of yarn strands adjacent the stitching point, said members operating to hold the yarnstrands fixed relatively thereto during the stitching period, and meansfor producing relative jogging movements between said needle andyarnhol'ding means in directions transversely of the path ofreciprocation of said needle.

3. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanismincluding a reciprocating needle, a yarn-holder including relativelymovable work-supporting and presser-members, said work-supporting memberhaving opposed upstanding yarn-confining surfaces between and relativeto which the yarn is held fixed by the presser-member during thestitching operation, and means for producing a plurality of relativejogging movements between said needle and yarn-holder in directionstransversely of the space between said surfaces while the yarn is heldin fixed relation to. the yarn-holder.

-l. In a sewing machine, in combination,

stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, a yarn-holderinclud ing relatively movable work-supporting and presser-members, saidwork-supporting member having spaced upstanding yarn-confining surfaces,and means for producing relative lateral jogging movements between saidneedle and yarn-holder in directions transversely of the space betweensaid surfaces, said movements being of greater amplitude than thedistance between said surfaces adj acent the stitching point, whereby abunch of yarn strands is wholly inclosed by the group of stitchesformed.

5. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanismincluding a reciprocating needle operating to form a predeterminednumber of stitches, a workholder comprising a pair of spacedyarnconfining guides disposed, respectively, in front and in rear of theneedle-path and a prcsser-device including spaced work-engaging portionsdisposed at the sides of the needle-path and adapted to compress a bunchof yarn-strands placed between said guides and grip the yarn-strandsthroughout the formation of said stitches, and means for producingrelative stitch-positioning movements between said stitch-formingmechanism and work-holder across the space between said guides, wherebysaid stitches are grouped together at one point along the length of saidyarn-strands.

6. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanismincluding a vertically reciprocating needle, a support having guidesurfaces defining an upwardly opening yarn. receiving throat betweenthem, a prcsser-member mounted on saidsupport for compressing andholding a bunch of yarn-strands in said throat, and means for joggingsaid support laterally of said needle.

7. 'A special Work-holder for sewing ma chines comprising, a supporthaving opposed guide surfaces defining a yarn-rcceiw ing throat betweenthem, and a pressermember movable vertically to a depressed positionbeyond'the mouth of said throat for compressing and holding a bunch ofyarn-strands in said throat, and means for jogging said work-holderwidthwise of said throat.

8. A special work-holdcr for sewing machines comprising relativelymovable opposed clamping members, one of said mom bers having opposedyarn-confining surfaces defining an upwardly opening yarnreceivingthroat, and the other of said members being movable to a depressedposition below the mouth of said throat to con'ipress the yarn confinedtherein, and means for jogging said work-holder to-and-fro in thedirection of the shortest distance between said surfaces.

9. A special work-holder for sewing ma defining an upwardly openingwork-receiving throat, and spaced presser elements embracing sald throatand movable below the mouth thereof for compressing and holding the worktherein.

10. A special work-holder for sewing machines comprising, a supportformed with a yarn-receiving throat, a presser-member carried by saidsupport and adapted to press a bunch of yarn-strands into and entirelybeyond the mouth of said throat, and means for jogging said work-holder.

11. A special work-holder for sewing machines comprising, a supporthaving an elongated needle-aperture and opposed work-confining surfacesat opposite sides of said aperture, said surfaces being disposedinwardly from the ends of said aperture and defining an upwardly openingthroat. and a presser-member for compressing and holding a bunch ofyarn-strands between said surfaces.

12. A special work-holder for sewing machines comprising, a supporthaving an elongated needle-aperture and opposed upstandingwork-confining surfaces located at opposite sides of said aperture anddefining an upwardly opening throat, the distance between said surfacesbeing less than the length of said aperture, and a Presser-member forcompressing and holding a bunch of yarn-strands between said surfaces.

13. A special work-holder for sewing ma.- chines comprising a supporthaving guide surfaces defining an upwardly opening work-receivingthroat, a pivotally mounted presser-foot having toe portions adapted tocompress and hold the work in said throat, a presser-foot lifter, andmeans whereby said toe portions are swung upwardly about their pivotwhen said presser-foot is lifted.

14:. A special work-holder for sewing machines comprising a supporthaving guide surfaces defining an upwardly opening work-receivingthroat, a pivotally mounted presser-foot for compressing and holding thework in said throat, said presser-foot including toe portions and aweighted heel, and means for lifting said presser-foot.

15. A special yarn-holder and compressor for sewing machines comprisinga worksupporting plate, a pair of spaced upstanding guides mounted onsaid plate and having opposed yarn-confining surfaces defining anupwardly opening throat, and a presser-member opposed to said plate andadapted to compress the yarn positioned between said guides, said guideshaving grooves to receive the needle and said plate having an elongatedneedle-aperture the extremities of which register with said grooves.

16. A special work-clamp for sewing machines comprising, in combination,a lower supporting plate havmg a needle-aperture,

a pair of spaced rip-standing work-confining guides carried by saidplate and embracing said needle-aperture, and an upper clamp-memberincluding a presser-foot having a pair of toe-portions extending alongopposite sides of said guides and adapted for movement below the upperextremities of said guides to confine the work in the spacetherebetween.

17. A special work-holder for sewing machines comprising, a support anda pair of spaced, lip-standing, work-confining guides carried by saidsupport, the upper end of one of said guides being extended outwardly toform an auxiliary guide facilitating insertion of the workinto the spacebetween said guides.

18. A special work-holder for sewing machines comprising, a support, apair of spaced up-standing guides carried by said support and defining awork receiving throat, the upper end of one of said guides beingextended outwardly away from the other guide, a presser-foot includingspaced work-engaging toes extended forwardly at opposite sides of saidguides, and means for lifting said presser-foot, said toe-portionsserving, when lifted, as auxiliary guides facilitating insertion of thework into said throat.

19. In a sewing machine, in combination, a reciprocating needle, awork-holder comprising forwardly and rearwardly disposed guides definingan upwardly opening throat between them, means for producing relativeforward and rearward jogging movements between said needle and guides,and means for stopping the machine with the needle nearer the rearwardguide whereby the work may be readily removed without striking theneedle.

20. In a sewing machine, in combination, a reciprocating needle, awork-holder comprising forwardly and rearwardly disposed guides definingan upwardly opening workreceiving throat between them, means forproducing relative forward and rearward jogging movements between saidneedle and guides, said means being actuated to cause the needle to makethe first stitch within the body of the Work, subsequent stitchesalternately beyond opposite sides of the work, and the last stitchwithin the body of the worch but nearer the rearwardly disposed gu1 e.

21. A special work-clamp for sewing machines, comprising a work-supportformed with opposed guides defining an open sided throat and abifurcated presser-foot having work-engaging portions movable depthwiseof and along the open sides of said throat, said work-support having aneedle-clearance aperture at the bottom of said throat.

22. A special work-clamp for sewing inachines, comprising a supportingmember having a needle-aperture, upstanding guides carried thereby anddisposed in spaced relation embracing said aperture to define an opensided throat and a presser-foot mounted on said supporting member andhaving spaced Work-engaging portions movable depthwise of and along theopen sides of said throat.

23. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitclrformilig mechanismincluding a reciprocating needle, a work-support formed with opposedupstanding guides defining a throat having oppositely disposed opensides, spaced presser elements movable depthwise of and along the opensides of said throat at opposite sides of the needlepath and means forproducing relative stitch-positioning movements between said needle andwork-support to lay the stitches about a bundle of yarn-strands confinedin said throat.

24. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanismincluding a ver tically reciprocating needle, a work-support having anelongated needle aperture, guides carried by .the work-support andpresenting opposed upstanding yarn-confining surfaces at opposite sidesof said needle'aperture, a presser for compressing and holding a bunchof yarn-strands placed between said guides, and means for relativelyjogging said needle and work-support in directions lengthwise of saidaperture.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WVAYLAND D. MICHENER.

